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Oachira Temple

The Oachira Temple is an extremely ancient temple located in Oachira in Kollam district in the South Indian state of Kerala. According to the Puranas, this temple is one of the famous sacred places of Kerala and India. Oachira is on the border of Kollam and Allappuzha districts, next to the National Highway 47. This very ancient pilgrimage center is centered on the ParaBrahma temple (that is dedicated to the Para Brahman (or Param Brahman) or Ohmkaram, the Universal Consciousness), and covers thirty-six acres of land.

The presiding deity at this sanctum-sanctorum is the abstract principle of the 'Parabrahmam' or the 'Divine Omnipresence' or 'Universal Conciousness'.

Oachira temple has neither a structure to house nor an idol to worship. Oachira is dedicated to the formless, infinite Para Brahmam, the Absolute and Supreme Principle.

The Oachira Temple is peculiar in the terms of it does not have covered structures for temples. People worship the Para Brahma (the original formless power who manifests as the three Supreme forms of God, namely Brahma/Vishnu/Siva) under neatly preserved trees. Millions of pilgrims visit Oachira temple for worshiping especially in the month of July and October.

There are many beliefs exist about the origin of the name of Oachira . The prominent belief is that the place Oachira has its name from Uvachanchira as Uvachan means Lord Shiva.

There is no temple in the real sense. Around big trees in vast open area there are exposed small idols. Some idols are of female forces attributed to Shakti (power) and the others are of Parabrahmam, the omnipresent. To the right of the idols surrounded trees is an Ayyappa swamy kshetram (temple) constructed similar to Sabarimala temple, and to the left is a mosque.

The annual festival ‘Ochirakali’ and ‘Panthrandu Vilakku’ is held during the first and second of the Malayalam month ‘Mithunam’. Ochirakali commemorates the historic battle between the Chempakasseri and Kayamkulam Rajas. During the festival, men dress up as warriors and enact mock wars wielding wooden sticks, brandishing swords and shields, enacting a kind of martial dance, standing knee deep in water. Two days of this ritual is followed by few days of brisk trading in cattle and agricultural produce, an old tradition now being revived.

Oachirakkali is a famous ritual performed here during June and it involves mock-fighting in muddy water by traditional martial art experts. And "Erupathattam onam" (28 days after Onam) is also celebrated. It is the festival of cattles. In this festival, huge "EDUPPU KALA" (Gigantic Bull shaped structures) are made. They are then pulled on giant wheels to the OACHIRA TEMPLE from the site where they are made.

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